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Germany is at the forefront of plans to foster closer cooperation between EU member states on military matters and is pressing eurocrats to cook up ever bolder defence plans.

Berlin insists its intentions are harmless, but critics fear it is creating a spider’s web of legislation which is effectively tying member states into the creation of an EU army.

Ms von der Leyen told MEPs that 2016 had been a “decisive year” in the drive for closer cooperation, with Brexit and the election of Donald Trump shocking the continent into action.

She said: “It was clear from then on that Europe had to understand that out of our own interests we Europeans have to make sure we have our own defence in our own hands so that we’re able to react to crises in a decisive and immediate action.

“Since then the question has no longer been whether we need a European defence union but rather how we organise it.”

She hailed the creation of a centralised HQ for military operations in Brussels - something British critics have dubbed little more than a call centre - and called for a “European flavour to our defence policy”.

And she said Germany and France - who together are driving Europe’s defence plans - will push for the creation of permanent battlegroups which can be deployed in the field at short notice.

Currently the battlegroups are staffed on a six-month rotating basis by troops from different countries, meaning there is little continuity to the overall command structure.

The question is no longer whether we need a European defence union but how we organise it

German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen

But under Germany’s plans groups manned permanently by troops from certain member states would be created, meaning “we don’t have to set everything up every six months with all the difficulties that entails”.

The defence minister suggested one such battlegroup could be made up of troops from the for Visegrad countries of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

She also hinted at plans for much greater EU intervention in Africa if the bloc’s ambitious plans, which include a defence fund and the setting up of a permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) framework, are passed.

Ms von der Leyen said: “If Europe is going to be trying to create stability in Africa I can’t see NATO there very often but I see the EU very active on the African continent.

“That’s why I see different theatres where NATO might be required and other areas where the EU has got broader instruments and can perhaps be more effective.”

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She fielded several questions about possible conflicts with the transatlantic military alliance after some critics accused Brussels of trying to turn the EU into a “second NATO” with its plans.

The defence ministers also batted away suggestions from one MEP that Berlin was trying to amalgamate the EU’s different armies into one gargantuan, German-led euro force.

She replied: “It’s not a question of integration but rather affiliation. It’s different and it’s very important to know that. Affiliation is the word you’re looking for.”

Last week the EU Commission presented bold a bold consultation paper penned by top eurocrat Jean-Claude Juncker which presents three options for Europe’s defence future, all of which include closer cooperation.

Respected military commander Major-General Julian Thompson warned express.co.uk that the UK is getting sucked into the plans and needs to "extricate" itself before it ends up becoming part of an EU army.